Firearm attachment

Abstract

In one example, a firearm attachment includes a base adapted to be coupled to a firearm. The firearm attachment also includes a plurality of substantially longitudinal tines extending forwardly from the base and arranged circumferentially around a central axis of the attachment. The firearm attachment also includes at least one bore substantially concentric with the central axis. The firearm attachment also includes three longitudinal slots defined by sidewalls of adjacent ones of the tines and adapted to pass combustion gases from the bore. The sidewalls extend from the bore to an outer circumfery of the attachment. Sidewalls of adjacent tines lie in respective planes that intersect at an angle in a range of approximately 9 degrees to approximately 12 degrees. Other implementations and related methods are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A firearm attachment comprising:
 a base adapted to be coupled to a firearm; 
 a plurality of substantially longitudinal tines extending forwardly from the base and arranged circumferentially around a central axis of the firearm attachment, wherein the tines and at least a front portion of the base are adapted to be inserted into a socket of a firearm sound suppressor; 
 a frusto-conical external surface substantially at a rear portion of the base and providing a plug configured to be received by a complementary interior surface of the socket; 
 a tab extending longitudinally along the base from the plug and adapted to be received by a slot extending longitudinally along the firearm sound suppressor and disposed in the interior surface to rotationally align the firearm sound suppressor relative to the firearm, wherein the slot tapers from a maximum depth at a rear aperture of the socket to a minimum depth within the socket; 
 at least one bore substantially concentric with the central axis; 
 three longitudinal slots defined by sidewalls of adjacent ones of the tines and adapted to pass combustion gases from the bore; 
 wherein the sidewalls extend from the bore to an outer circumfery of the firearm attachment; and 
 wherein sidewalls of adjacent tines lie in respective planes that intersect at an angle in a range of approximately 9 degrees to approximately 12 degrees. 
 
     
     
       2. The firearm attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the slots of the firearm attachment comprise three slots, the tines comprise three tines, and the slots of the firearm attachment and the tines are substantially axially symmetrical around the central axis. 
     
     
       3. The firearm attachment of  claim 1 , wherein at least one sidewall of each tine comprises a scalloped surface substantially adjacent to the bore. 
     
     
       4. The firearm attachment of  claim 1 , wherein a rear end of each of the slots of the firearm attachment extends into the base to provide a channel to direct the combustion gases outwardly through the slots of the firearm attachment. 
     
     
       5. The firearm attachment of  claim 1 , wherein a front end of the tab is substantially conterminous with a front end of the frusto-conical surface. 
     
     
       6. The firearm attachment of  claim 1 , wherein a front end of the tab extends forward of a front end of the frusto-conical surface. 
     
     
       7. The firearm attachment of  claim 1 , wherein a front end of the tab is chamfered. 
     
     
       8. The firearm attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the bore comprises:
 a proximal bore disposed within the base; 
 an intermediate bore disposed within the base in front of and in communication with the proximal bore, the intermediate bore having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the proximal bore; 
 a distal bore within the base extending rearwardly from a front end of the base and toward the intermediate bore, the distal bore having a diameter larger than the diameter of the intermediate bore and smaller than the diameter of the proximal bore; and 
 a transition bore having a rear end coincident with a front end of the intermediate bore and a front end coincident with a rear end of the distal bore. 
 
     
     
       9. The firearm attachment of  claim 8 , wherein the transition bore comprises an internal surface comprising a segment of a sphere. 
     
     
       10. The firearm attachment of  claim 1 , wherein the firearm attachment is a flash hider. 
     
     
       11. A firearm comprising:
 a barrel; 
 the firearm attachment of  claim 1  attached to the barrel. 
 
     
     
       12. A method of aligning a firearm sound suppressor, the method comprising:
 coupling a base of a firearm attachment to a firearm; 
 inserting a plurality of substantially longitudinal tines of the firearm attachment and at least a front portion of the base into a socket of the firearm sound suppressor, wherein the tines extend forwardly from the base and are arranged circumferentially around a central axis of the firearm attachment; 
 sliding a tab of the firearm attachment into a slot disposed in an interior surface of the socket to rotationally align the firearm sound suppressor relative to the firearm; 
 contacting a plug of the firearm attachment against the interior surface in a complementary engagement, wherein the plug is provided by a frusto-conical external surface of a rear portion of the base, wherein the tab extends longitudinally along the base from the plug, wherein the slot extends longitudinally along the firearm sound suppressor and tapers from a maximum depth at a rear aperture of the socket to a minimum depth within the socket; and 
 wherein the firearm attachment further comprises:
 at least one bore substantially concentric with the central axis, 
 three longitudinal slots defined by sidewalls of adjacent ones of the tines and adapted to pass combustion gases from the bore, 
 wherein the sidewalls extend from the bore to an outer circumfery of the firearm attachment, and 
 wherein sidewalls of adjacent tines lie in respective planes that intersect at an angle in a range of approximately 9 degrees to approximately 12 degrees. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 cycling the firearm; 
 passing the combustion gases associated with the firing from the bore through the slots. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the slots of the firearm attachment comprise three slots, the tines comprise three tines, and the slots of the firearm attachment and the tines are substantially axially symmetrical around the central axis. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one sidewall of each tine comprises a scalloped surface substantially adjacent to the bore. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12 , wherein a rear end of each of the slots of the firearm attachment extends into the base to provide a channel to direct the combustion gases outwardly through the slots of the firearm attachment. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 12 , wherein a front end of the tab is substantially conterminous with a front end of the frusto-conical surface. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 12 , wherein a front end of the tab extends forward of a front end of the frusto-conical surface. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 12 , wherein a front end of the tab is chamfered. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the bore comprises:
 a proximal bore disposed within the base; 
 an intermediate bore disposed within the base in front of and in communication with the proximal bore, the intermediate bore having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the proximal bore; 
 a distal bore within the base extending rearwardly from a front end of the base and toward the intermediate bore, the distal bore having a diameter larger than the diameter of the intermediate bore and smaller than the diameter of the proximal bore; and 
 a transition bore having a rear end coincident with a front end of the intermediate bore and a front end coincident with a rear end of the distal bore. 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20 , wherein the transition bore comprises an internal surface comprising a segment of a sphere. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the firearm attachment is a flash hider.